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		    خشک گردد موش زان گربهی عیار  ** گر بود اعداد موشان صد هزار 
- The mouse is paralysed by the wily cat, (even) if the numbers of the mice amount to a hundred thousand.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    از رمهی انبه چه غم قصاب را  ** انبهی هش چه بندد خواب را 
- What cares the butcher for the numerous flock (of sheep)? How can abundance of consciousness prevent (the approach of) slumber?
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    مالک الملک است جمعیت دهد  ** شیر را تا بر گلهی گوران جهد 
- He (God) is the Lord of the kingdom: He gives collectedness to the lion, so that he springs on the herd of onagers.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    صد هزاران گور دهشاخ و دلیر  ** چون عدم باشند پیش صول شیر 
- A hundred thousand savage and courageous onagers are as naught before the onset of the lion.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   مالک الملک است بدهد ملک حسن  ** یوسفی را تا بود چون ماء مزن    3055
- He is the Lord of the kingdom: He gives to a Joseph the kingdom of Beauty, so that he is (lovely) as the water of white clouds.
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    در رخی بنهد شعاع اختری  ** که شود شاهی غلام دختری 
- He bestows upon one face the radiance of a star, so that a king becomes the slave of a girl.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    بنهد اندر روی دیگر نور خود  ** که ببیند نیمشب هر نیک و بد 
- He bestows upon another face His own Light, so that at midnight it sees everything good and evil.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    یوسف و موسی ز حق بردند نور  ** در رخ و رخسار و در ذات الصدور 
- Joseph and Moses fetched light from God into their cheeks and countenances and into their inmost bosoms.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    روی موسی بارقی انگیخته  ** پیش رو او توبره آویخته 
- The face of Moses shot forth a flashing beam: he hung a veil in front of his face.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   نور رویش آنچنان بردی بصر  ** که زمرد از دو دیدهی مار کر    3060
- The splendour of his face would have dazzled (men's) eyes as the emerald (blinds) the eyes of the deaf adder.
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    او ز حق در خواسته تا توبره  ** گردد آن نور قوی را ساتره 
- He besought God that the veil might become a covering for that powerful Light.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    توبره گفت از گلیمت ساز هین  ** کان لباس عارفی آمد امین 
- He (God) said, “Hark, make a veil of thy felt raiment, for the garment of gnosis can be trusted (to keep it safe),
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    کان کسا از نور صبری یافتست  ** نور جان در تار و پودش تافتست 
- Because that robe has become inured to the Light: the Light of the Spirit shines through its warp and woof.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    جز چنین خرقه نخواهد شد صوان  ** نور ما را بر نتابد غیر آن 
- Nothing will be a (safe) repository (for it) except a mantle like this: nothing else can endure Our Light.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   کوه قاف ار پیش آید بهرسد  ** همچو کوه طور نورش بر درد    3065
- If Mt Qáf should come forward as a barrier (to it), the Light would rend it asunder like Mt Sinai.”
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    از کمال قدرت ابدان رجال  ** یافت اندر نور بیچون احتمال 
- Through the (Divine) omnipotence the bodies of (holy) men have gained ability to support the unconditioned Light.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    آنچ طورش بر نتابد ذرهای  ** قدرتش جا سازد از قارورهای 
- His (God's) power makes a glass vessel the dwelling-place of that (Light) of which Sinai cannot bear (even) a mote.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    گشت مشکات و زجاجی جای نور  ** که همیدرد ز نور آن قاف و طور 
- A lamp-niche and a lamp-glass have become the dwelling-place of the Light by which Mt Qáf and Mt Sinai are torn to pieces.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    جسمشان مشکات دان دلشان زجاج  ** تافته بر عرش و افلاک این سراج 
- Know that their (the holy men's) bodies are the lamp-niche and their hearts the glass: this lamp illumines the empyrean and the heavens.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   نورشان حیران این نور آمده  ** چون ستاره زین ضحی فانی شده    3070
- Their (the heavens') light is dazzled by this Light and vanishes like the stars in this radiance of morning.
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    زین حکایت کرد آن ختم رسل  ** از ملیک لا یزال و لم یزل 
- Hence the Seal of the prophets has related (the saying) of the everlasting and eternal Lord—
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    که نگنجیدم در افلاک و خلا  ** در عقول و در نفوس با علا 
- “I am not contained in the heavens or in the void or in the exalted intelligences and souls;
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    در دل مومن بگنجیدم چو ضیف  ** بی ز چون و بی چگونه بی ز کیف 
- (But) I am contained, as a guest, in the true believer's heart, without qualification or definition or description,
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    در دل مومن بگنجیدم چو ضیف  ** بی ز چون و بی چگونه بی ز کیف 
- To the end that by the mediation of that heart (all) above and below may win from Me sovereignties and fortune.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   بیچنین آیینه از خوبی من  ** برنتابد نه زمین و نه زمن    3075
- Without such a mirror neither Earth nor Time could bear the vision of My beauty.
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    بر دو کون اسپ ترحم تاختیم  ** پس عریض آیینهای بر ساختیم 
- I caused the steed of (My) mercy to gallop over the two worlds: I fashioned a very spacious mirror.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    هر دمی زین آینه پنجاه عرس  ** بشنو آیینه ولی شرحش مپرس 
- From this mirror (appear) at every moment fifty (spiritual) wedding-feasts: hearken to the mirror, but do not ask (Me) to describe it.”
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    حاصل این کزلبس خویشش پرده ساخت  ** که نفوذ آن قمر را میشناخت 
- The gist (of the discourse) is this, that he (Moses) made a veil of his raiment, since he knew the penetrativeness of (the light of) that Moon.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    گر بدی پرده ز غیر لبس او  ** پاره گشتی گر بدی کوه دوتو 
- Had the veil been (made) of anything except his raiment, it would have been torn to shreds, (even) if it had been (like) a solid mountain.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   ز آهنین دیوارها نافذ شدی  ** توبره با نور حق چه فن زدی    3080
- It (the Light) would penetrate through iron walls: what contrivance could the veil employ against the Light of God?
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    گشته بود آن توبره صاحب تفی  ** بود وقت شور خرقهی عارفی 
- That veil had become glowing: it was the mantle of a gnostic in the moment of ecstasy.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    زان شود آتش رهین سوخته  ** کوست با آتش ز پیش آموخته 
- The fire is deposited (becomes immanent) in the tinder because it (the tinder) is already familiar with the fire.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    وز هوا و عشق آن نور رشاد  ** خود صفورا هر دو دیده باد داد 
- And in sooth Safúrá, from desire and love for that Light of true guidance, sacrificed both her eyes.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    اولا بر بست یک چشم و بدید  ** نور روی او و آن چشمش پرید 
- At first she closed one eye and beheld the light of his (Moses') face (with the other); and that eye was lost.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   بعد از آن صبرش نماند و آن دگر  ** بر گشاد و کرد خرج آن قمر    3085
- Afterwards she could no longer restrain herself and (therefore) she opened the other (eye) and spent it on that Moon.
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    همچنان مرد مجاهد نان دهد  ** چون برو زد نور طاعت جان دهد 
- Even so the (spiritual) warrior (first) gives away his bread; (but) when the light of devotion strikes on him, he gives away his life.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    پس زنی گفتش ز چشم عبهری  ** که ز دستت رفت حسرت میخوری 
- Then a woman said to her, “Art thou grieving for the jonquil-like eye that thou hast lost?”
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    گفت حسرت میخورم که صد هزار  ** دیده بودی تا همیکردم نثار 
- “I am grieving,” she replied, “(to think) would that I had a hundred thousand eyes to lavish (on that Moon)!
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    روزن چشمم ز مه ویران شدست  ** لیک مه چون گنج در ویران نشست 
- The window, (which is) mine eye, has been ruined by the Moon; but the Moon is seated (there) like the (buried) treasure in the ruin.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   کی گذارد گنج کین ویرانهام  ** یاد آرد از رواق و خانهام    3090
- How should the treasure let this ruin of mine have (any regretful) memory of my porch and house?”
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    نور روی یوسفی وقت عبور  ** میفتادی در شباک هر قصور 
- The light of Joseph's face, when he was passing by, used to fall on the latticed windows of every villa,
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    پس بگفتندی درون خانه در  ** یوسفست این سو به سیران و گذر 
- And the people within the house would say, “Joseph is taking a walk in this quarter and passing by”;
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    زانک بر دیوار دیدندی شعاع  ** فهم کردندی پس اصحاب بقاع 
- For they would see the radiance on the wall, and then the landlords (inmates) would understand (the cause of it).
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    خانهای را کش دریچهست آن طرف  ** دارد از سیران آن یوسف شرف 
- The house that has its window in that direction is ennobled by that Joseph's walking for recreation.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   هین دریچه سوی یوسف باز کن  ** وز شکافش فرجهای آغاز کن    3095
- Hark, open a window towards Joseph and begin to delight yourself by looking at him through the aperture.
 
		 
	         
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    عشقورزی آن دریچه کردنست  ** کز جمال دوست سینه روشنست 
- The business of love is to make that window (in the heart), for the breast is illumined by the beauty of the Beloved.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    پس هماره روی معشوقه نگر  ** این به دست تست بشنو ای پدر 
- Therefore gaze incessantly on the face of the Beloved! This is in your power. Hearken, O father!
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    راه کن در اندرونها خویش را  ** دور کن ادراک غیراندیش را 
- Make a way for yourself into the innermost parts: banish the perception that is concerned with other (than God).
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		    
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		    کیمیا داری دوای پوست کن  ** دشمنان را زین صناعت دوست کن 
- You possess an elixir: treat your (vile) skin (with it), and by means of this art (alchemy) make your enemies your friends.
 
		 
		 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		    
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		   چون شدی زیبا بدان زیبا رسی  ** که رهاند روح را از بیکسی    3100
- When you have become beauteous you will attain unto the Beauteous One who delivers the spirit from friendlessness.